LUBBOCK – The Rider Raiders knew they needed to play better in the second round to finish in the top three at the Region I-5A Tournament and advance to the Class 5A State Tournament.

The Raiders delivered when the pressure was at its highest Tuesday, trimming 21 shots off their first-round score and shooting a 308 for a two-day total of 637. Their stellar effort was enough to move them into third place for the final bid to the state tournament, edging fourth-place Aledo by a single stroke. It's the first time since 1999 Rider has sent an entire team to state.

The Raiders will join Region I-5A champion Lubbock Cooper Black (298-299—597) and runner-up Colleyville Heritage (320-315—635) at White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown for the Class 5A State Tournament on May 14-15.

“We just went out there and tried to hit some golf shots,” Rider coach Dakota Robbins said. “I told the guys to go out and enjoy the moment. This is a special group. They've been a part of two district championships, an individual state qualifier and now team state qualifiers.”

It's a return trip to state for senior Clark Dunkelberg, who advanced as an individual last season after winning the Region I-5A medalist championship. Dunkelberg didn't repeat as regional champion, but did improve by nine shots from Monday to Tuesday.

After a disappointing 80 in the first round, Dunkelberg rebounded to fire a 71, jumping him into a tie for fifth place at 151. Lane Garcia also improved dramatically in the second round, improving from an 81 to a 73 for a two-day total of 154. Bryce Gunkel shaved 10 strokes off of his first-round total of 94, shooting 84. Collin Page had the other countable score at 80, while Robert Borgman shot 91.

“Clark is always solid for us, but we got great contributions from Lane, Collin and Bryce today,” Robbins said. “I couldn't be more proud.”

Abby Wright represents the Rider girls golf program at the Region I-5A Tournament beginning Wednesday at the Rawls Golf Course. Wright tees off at 9:40 a.m. from the No. 1 hole.

Panthers, Wylie headed back to Austin

FERRIS – The Seymour Panthers are headed back to the Class 2A State Golf Tournament for the fourth consecutive year. And they'll be joined by Archer City's Morgan Wylie, who is also making his third straight appearance.

The Panthers fell back a spot on the second day of the Region II-2A Tournament at Old Brickyard Golf Course despite shooting a better overall round Tuesday. They shaved five strokes off their first-round total for a 315, finishing with a 635. De Leon trailed the Panthers by two strokes entering the day, but shot 306 to jump them into first place for a two-day total of 628.

“We just played outstanding for two straight days,” Seymour coach John Anderson said. “As well as we played these last two days, I wish we could tee it up at state tomorrow.

“Finishing second is not as disappointing when you play really well and a team like De Leon shoots 306. I don’t feel like we lost first, I feel like De Leon went out and won it.”

Wylie, a senior at Archer City, shot a 69 Tuesday – nine strokes better than his first-round effort. It tied for low round of the day, propelling him into third place with a 147. Goldthwaite's Drew Hermesmeyer won the tournament at 139 – six strokes better than second-place Jordan Hardin of De Leon.

The Quanah Indians had a five-year streak of advancing to state ended after placing fourth with a two-round total of 656. The Indians improved by eight strokes in the second round, but couldn't make up the full margin to overtake Goldthwaite, which held them off by two shots.

The Class 2A State Tournament is set for May 14-15 at Roy Kizer Golf Course in Austin. 

Holliday's Key is state-bound

BAIRD – Holliday junior Conner Key is headed back the Class 3A State Tournament for a third time.

Key, who advanced to state as a sophomore and junior, shot a second-round 71 in the Region I-3A Tournament at Shady Oaks Golf Course on Tuesday, for a two-day total of 150.

 

Key's strong second round bumped him to sixth in the individual standings, earning him the third and final medalist berth to the state tournament. Key finished a stroke behind Early's Jake Angerstein and two shots back of Coleman Coon of Wall, who earned the other two medalist entries.

Jacksboro's Ethan Sanchez shot a second straight 77 to finish four shots off Key's pace. Merkel's Parker Doan won the medalist title with a 140, while Brock's Garrett Leek, an MSU commit, finished second at 142.

Merkel also won the team title with a 623, finishing 15 strokes ahead of Comanche.

Olney's Barrington, Quanah girls win region

FERRIS – The Quanah Lady Indians are Region II-2A champions and so is Olney's Mattie Barrington.

The Lady Indians won the Region II-2A Tournament held Tuesday at Old Brickyard Golf Course, maintaining their first-round lead with a second-round score of 383 for a total of 757. They bested second-place Hamilton by 14 strokes and third-place Olney by 32. The Lady Cubs are also state bound.

Barrington won the medalist title with a two-day total of 166. She followed her first-round 79 with an 87, which despite the increase in strokes was still the lowest score of the second round.

Quanah's Makayla Simmons was Barrington's closest competition. Simmons was second opening the day and held onto the spot with a 90 for a total of 171. Hamilton's Paige DeJong was in second at 174.

The Class 2A State Tournament is set for May 14-15 at Roy Kizer Golf Course in Austin.

Crowell’s Bearden wins regional title

LUBBOCK – Crowell’s Seth Bearden is a regional champion in his first year of high school golf.

Bearden shot a 73-79—152 at Lakeridge Country Club to win by two strokes Tuesday over Fort Elliot’s Gatlin Goad (75-79—154). Last summer before his freshman season, Bearden placed second on a tiebreaker at the Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf Tournament.

Crowell finished 10th as a team with a 430-453-883, while Chillicothe was 11th with a 452-452—904.

On the Region I-1A girls side, Knox City’s Klarisa Hernandez placed 10th with a 97-98—195 but didn’t advance to state. Northside’s girls were eighth with a 503-462—965, while Chillicothe was ninth with a 493-483—976.

REGION I-5A TOURNAMENT

at Rawls Golf Course, Lubbock

Boys

Team – 1. *Lubbock Cooper Black, 298-299—597; 2. *Colleyville Heritage 320-315—635; 3. *Rider 329-308—637; 4. Aledo 320-318—638; 5. Amarillo 313-329—642.

Top individuals – 1. Hudson Carper, Cooper Black, 73-66—139; 2. *Brandon Massey, Arlington Heights, 75-71—146; 3. Bladen Samaiego, Cooper Black, 73-76—149; 4. *Evan Pennington, Aledo, 75-75—150; 5t. Clark Dunkelberg, Rider, 80-71—151; 5t. *Zach Willard, Chisholm Trail, 73-78—151.

Rider (329-308—637) – Clark Dunkelberg, 80-71—151; Lane Garcia 81-73—154; Robert Borgman 89-91—180; 4. Collin Page 79-80—159; Bryce Gunkel 94-84—178.

*advances to Class 5A State Tournament.

REGION I-4A TOURNAMENT

at Shadow Hills Golf Course, Lubbock

Boys

Team – 1. *Monahans, 290-282—572; 2. *Andrews, 314-305—619; 3. *Perryton, 327-306—633; 4. Midlothian Heritage, 325-310—635; 5. Abilene Wylie, 316-323—639; 12. Graham, 345-339—684; 14. Iowa Park, 375-366—741.

Top individuals – 1. Joe Kirk, Monahans, 69-69—138; 2. *Jaryn Pruitt, Brownwood, 71-69—140; 3. Bond Heflin, Monahans, 71-72—143; 4. *Braxton Floyd, Pampa, 73-71—144; 5. JT Pittman, Monahans, 73-72—145; 6. Ryan Hedges, Monahans, 77-69—146; 7. *Jake Leatherwood, Snyder, 76-72—148.

Graham (345-339—684) – Kolton Carmichael, 82-76—158; Easton Wolfe 78-81—159; Tucker Horn 92-87—179; Austin Bryant 97-95—192; Ben Taylor 93-104—197.

Iowa Park (375-366—741) – Keaton Dickens 91-87—178; Dayton Poore 100-93—193; Andy Eastep 94-97—191; Billy Pearson 90-89—179.

Other area medalists – Callen Mills, Graham, 100-102—202; Tucker Dozier, Burk, 100-110—210.

*advances to Class 4A State Tournament.

REGION I-3A TOURNAMENT

at Shady Oaks Golf Course, Baird

Boys

Team – 1. Merkel *315-208—623; 2. *Comanche 320-315—638; 3. *Brock, 326-333—659; 4. Clyde, 336-333—669; 5. Kermit A, 342-345—687; 8. Holliday, 347-355—702; 13. Jacksboro, 373-354—727.

Top individuals – 1. Parker Doan, Merkel, 70-70—140; 2. Garrett Leek, Brock, 71-71—142; 3. Kasey Middleton, Comanche, 70-72—142; 4. *Coleman Coon, Wall, 73-75—148; 5. *Jake Angerstein, Early, 73-76—149; 6. *Conner Key, Holliday, 79-71—150.

Holliday (347) – Conner Key 79-71—150, Garrison Hall 82-81—163, Holden Stubblefield 92-103—195, Crue Jackson 94-111—205, Nathan Sheen 96-100—196.

Jacksboro (373) – Ethan Sanchez 77-77—154, Brady Burnett 92-86—178, Reno Rollins 102-100—202, Dalton Harp 102-91—193, Hunter Hackley 108-101—209.

Other area medalists – Hunter Fenoglio, Nocona, 90-98—188; Imanol Walker, Bowie 92-92—184.

*advances to Class 3A State Tournament.

REGION II-2A TOURNAMENT

at Old Brickyard Golf Course, Ferris

Boys

Team – 1. *DeLeon 322-306—628; 2. *Seymour 320-315—635; 3. *Goldthwaite, 324-330—654; 4. Quanah 332-324—656; 5. Muenster 360-362—722.

Top individuals – 1. Drew Hermesmeyer, Goldthwaite, 70-69—139; 2. Jordan Hardin, DeLeon, 76-69—145; 3. *Morgan Wylie, Archer City, 78-69—147; 4t. *Jacob Sullivan, Celeste, 78-72—150; 4t. *Garrett Hess, Muenster, 75-75—150.

Seymour (320-315—635) – Stetson Gillispie, 75-76—151; Ranger Donnell 80-80—160; Will Harper 82-81—163; Cain Schoonover 86-78—164; Aaron Ermis 83-82—165.

Quanah (332-324—656) – Clayton Laughery 77-80—157; JT Boyd 81-78—159; Ryan Alaniz, 81-86—167; Taylen Sossaman 93-80—173; Hunter Coley 97-98—195.

Other area medalist – Conner Byrd, Archer City, 91-88—179.

Girls

Team – 1. *Quanah 374-383—757; 2. *Hamilton 384-387—771; 3. *Olney 391-398—789; 4. Martin's Mill 400-400—800; 5. Muenster 435-420—855.

Top individuals – 1. Mattie Barrington, Olney, 79-87—166; 2. Makayla Simmons, Quanah, 81-90—171; 3. Paige DeJong, Hamilton, 87-87—174; 4. *Pauge Saucer, Muenster, 89-90—179; 5t. Kodee Crouch, Hamilton, 90-91—181; 5t. *Sarah Dillard, Martin's Mill, 86-95—181; 7. Heidi Rodriguez, Olney, 90-93—183; 8. *Lilly Long, Hawkins, 90-96—186.

Quanah (374-385—759) – Makayla Simmons, 81-90—171; Vanessa Quinones, 98-93—191; Heather O'Neal, 92-100—192; Ashlyn Simmons, 103-102—205; Erynn Leija, Quanah, 104-100—204.

Olney (391-405—796) – Mattie Barrington, 79-87—166; Heidi Rodriguez, 90-93—183; Baylee Bernhardt, 111-111—222; Payton Meade, 111-114—225; Callie Gray, 113-107—220.

Other area medalists – Katie Cooper, Archer City, 94-98—192; McKenna Sanderson, Munday, 93-101—194.

*advances to Class 2A State Tournament.